The countdown to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has officially begun, with warm-up matches set to provide teams with crucial match practice ahead of the marquee tournament.
A total of 16 warm-up games will be played between February 2 and February 6, just days before the tournament officially gets underway on February 7.
These matches will allow teams to fine-tune combinations, adjust to conditions, and assess squad depth.
The warm-up fixtures will be hosted across four cities in the two co-host nations, India and Sri Lanka.
In India, matches will take place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and the iconic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will host games at Colombo’s three major venues: the R. Premadasa Stadium, the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, and the Colombo Cricket Club Ground.
The fixtures feature a mix of full-member nations and ‘A’ teams, ensuring competitive contests while also giving emerging players valuable international exposure.
High-profile teams such as India, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies will use these matches to adapt to subcontinental conditions before the main event.
| Date | Match | Venue | Local Time (IST) |
| Feb 2 | Afghanistan vs Scotland | Ground 1, Bengaluru | 03:00 PM |
| Feb 2 | India A vs USA | Navi Mumbai | 05:00 PM |
| Feb 2 | Canada vs Italy | Chennai | 07:00 PM |
| Feb 3 | Sri Lanka A vs Oman | CCC Ground, Colombo | 01:00 PM |
| Feb 3 | Netherlands vs Zimbabwe | R. Premadasa Stadium | 03:00 PM |
| Feb 3 | Nepal vs UAE | Chennai | 05:00 PM |
| Feb 4 | Namibia vs Scotland | Ground 2, Bengaluru | 01:00 PM |
| Feb 4 | Afghanistan vs West Indies | Ground 1, Bengaluru | 03:00 PM |
| Feb 4 | Ireland vs Pakistan | SSC Ground, Colombo | 05:00 PM |
| Feb 4 | India vs South Africa | Navi Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| Feb 5 | Oman vs Zimbabwe | CCC Ground, Colombo | 11:00 AM |
| Feb 5 | Canada vs Nepal | Chennai | 01:00 PM |
| Feb 5 | Australia vs Netherlands | R. Premadasa Stadium | 05:00 PM |
| Feb 5 | New Zealand vs USA | Navi Mumbai | 07:00 PM |
| Feb 6 | Italy vs UAE | Chennai | 03:00 PM |
| Feb 6 | India A vs Namibia | Ground 1, Bengaluru | 05:00 PM |
The T20 World Cup 2026 format includes 20 teams divided into four groups of five. Following the round-robin stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8s.
The eight qualified teams will then be split into two groups, with the top two sides from each progressing to the semifinals.
For fans, selected matches in India, including India A vs USA and India vs South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium, will have tickets available online and at stadium box offices, making the warm-up phase an exciting opportunity to watch international cricket up close.
